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Genalyte CEO Dr. Cary Gunn, Class of 2017 Graduation Speaker

MSMS is pleased to announce that 1991 MSMS alumnus and Genalyte founder and CEO Dr. Cary Gunn will serve as this year’s graduation speaker.

Gunn, who is originally from Eastabuchie, Mississippi, is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, where he earned a degree in applied physics. He also holds a Masters and a PhD in electrical engineering from the California Institute of Technology. Gunn attended Petal High School before coming to MSMS.

Gunn founded his San Diego based company Genalyte in 2007. The company focuses on developing technology (the Maverick Detection System) that allows doctors to perform multiple diagnoses from a single drop of a patient’s blood. The system makes it possible for doctors to perform laboratory tests in their offices and receive results in less than 15 minutes.

“Genalyte is transforming the doctor-patient relationship by providing rapid diagnostic testing right in the doctor’s office. Our technology delivers results to physicians in minutes from just a single drop of blood, yielding better outcomes for the patient, empowering doctors to be more effective, and creating a more efficient healthcare system,” said Gunn from the Genalyte website.

Since the company’s founding Genalyte has received several tens of millions in investment capital. In 2015 the company raised $44 million in funding. In 2016 the company raised an additional $36 million.

Gunn holds 81 patents in the United States. In 2003 the MIT Technology Review named him a Top Young Innovator. He was again recognized in 2008 when he was awarded the Berthold-Leibenger Foundation Innovation Prize and the Optical Society of America Adolph Lomb medal. Gunn is also co-founder of Luxtera where he served as CTO until 2007.

“MSMS has been our most transformative experience to date, and we believe that the insight that you will have to share with us inspire us succeed in college and to give back to MSMS and Mississippi in the future,” wrote senior class president Mayukh Datta in his letter inviting Gunn to speak.

Graduation will be held on the MSMS campus in Columbus, Mississippi on Saturday May 20, 2017.